Casino opening causes rise in demand for gambling addiction support

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by Change | 24 May 2010

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A Battle Creek casino that opened in August has resulted in a rise in demand for gambling addiction support in the city.

A woman from Michigan said she needed gambling addiction support after a casino opened just 20 minutes from where she lived.

The Battle Creek resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, is now receiving gambling addiction treatment after she started visiting the casino impulsively, the Battle Creek Enquirer reports.

"My addiction came on fast and furious and I still don't understand why," she told the newspaper.

"I used to like to go to casinos and have some fun and then leave, and now with this one being here, it's just too convenient."

The woman's addiction has become so strong that she would often visit the casino and gamble alone during shopping trips into Battle Creek's downtown area.

Since the casino has been open, the woman said she has spent thousands of dollars working the slot machine controls.

Local gambling addiction counsellors said they have seen a marked increase in the number of people requiring help since the casino opened its doors in August.

Elsewhere, in one of the US's most serious cases of gambling addiction, it has been revealed that Terry Watanabe, dubbed Las Vegas' 'biggest loser', suffered losses of $200 million (£138 million) gambling in the city over a two-year period.

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